Fiesta 1.0 Ecoboost

[Belle427]

Started looking for one of these for around £4000, just need a cheap tax petrol engine for work duties.
I've heard Ecoboom directed at some ford engines but is this one of them?

[anonymous-user]

Yes. They have a wet belt that runs in the engine oil and this belt has a habit of deteriorating. Bits of rubber from the belt then block the oil pickup leading to low oil pressure which kills the big end bearings and eventually the engine will seize.

I personally wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot bargepole.

[Belle427]

Thanks, one to avoid then.

[bencollins4]

I only know two people with these, so not hugely representative, but one had had major engine issues, the other has had total engine failure which resulted in a new engine. Both belt and oil pressure related.

[Belle427]

Wet belt change is supposed to be 100k i believe, i do see quite a few with 100k plus on them so it surprises me they are so bad.

[stevemcs]

It’s a bit hit and miss, yes the belt breaks up but also a lot of people don’t service them religiously and with the correct oil. The early ones are mostly overdue there cambelt changes because people don’t want to pay for the belts. It varies in price, some charge £800, we charge £1300.

[Belle427]

Not really something the home mechanic could do either is it?

[stevemcs]

You could, but you need the torque multiplier to do it right (£600)

[ZX10R NIN]

No it's around £700 from an Indy, the big problem is they don't get serviced on schedule & that's when the problems start.

I advise people looking at these to budget getting the belt done if they can't verify the history, they're good cars but do your homework.

Other options.

0.9 Clio Dynamique S Media Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309302...

Dynamique Media Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311113...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311244...

Mito Twin Air:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309232...

Kia Rio 2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310132...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311274...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

[anonymous-user]

They also need a specific 5w20 oil which a lot of oils don't realise and use the wrong oil making the problem worse.

I also believe lots of short journeys cause the oil to be contaminated with petrol which also attacks the belt.

Plus people are not going to have the best replaced on a car worth £4k when it costs £1200. I also understand a lot of garages refuse to work on them.

Just get something else, not worth the risk. These engines have zero tolerance for abuse or lack of correct oil and maintenance.

[Trevor555]

Belle427 said:

Thanks, one to avoid then.

The four pot engines are better.

Weak cooling system pipes/outlet pipes, so check for leaks.

[Trevor555]

ZX10R NIN said:

No it's around £700 from an Indy

Wish we could get them done for that around here.

Workshop I help out with wont do them.

Presume that's £700 plus Vat?

[Defcon5]

Ford are replacing the early 1.0 ecoboost engines for free when the go pop

This also means you can buy them that have just had brand new engines fitted

[stevemcs]

Defcon5 said:

Ford are replacing the early 1.0 ecoboost engines for free when the go pop

This also means you can buy them that have just had brand new engines fitted

Not always, but they do sell new engines for around £1200 plus vat but it’s hit and miss to if the car gets the discounted rate.

They are simple enough to do the belts on, it’s a full days work to do it properly.

[Glosphil]

Another alternative is a Skoda Fabia or Seat Ibiza with the 1.0TSi engine. Available with 95, 110 or 115hp.

My wife has a 2019 Fabia with the 110hp version. I'm impressed with its performance on the Cotswold hills. 148lbft of torque from relatively low revs certainly helps. On a recent 21 mile trip on local hilly roads it averaged 51mpg.

[Belle427]

ZX10R NIN said:

No it's around £700 from an Indy, the big problem is they don't get serviced on schedule & that's when the problems start.

I advise people looking at these to budget getting the belt done if they can't verify the history, they're good cars but do your homework.

Other options.

0.9 Clio Dynamique S Media Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309302...

Dynamique Media Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311113...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311244...

Mito Twin Air:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311284...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309232...

Kia Rio 2:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310132...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311274...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305197...

Must admit that mito looks interesting, thanks for that.

[FezOnYourHeadFezOnMyDrive]

I have a 2016 Zetec S Black Edition. Bought at 9 months old with less than 500 miles on it. Serviced yearly/every 12.5k miles at a Ford dealer for first 5 years of ownership. From mid 2021 I took it to a local garage who are brilliant and I continue to use to this day. Ever since switching garages, I get it serviced every 6 months with the correct Castrol spec oil and have not yet had any issues relating to the wet belt and my car is on 88k miles.

Driven gently until fully warm, and then hard acceleration in third and fourth gears on slip roads - but otherwise driven sedately (more because of the large amounts of traffic and the imbeciles with zero spatial awareness or cognitive abilities behind the wheel doing 30 in a 50, 60 etc and then 40 in a 30 - but I digress).

Has had a new thermostat housing in May 2022 as that had a tiny leak. Interior trim such as the drivers window switches and the volume controls on the steering wheel sunk into the wheel itself. Patchwork on the exhaust at the same time too.

Good little cars, good handling and a flexible engine for a 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder turbo.

If you do buy one, my advice is to get it serviced twice as often and don't flog it hard in first nor second gear. And wait until it's fully up to temperature - I wish it had an oil temperature gauge as standard.

Hope that helps inform your decision.

[stevemcs]

FezOnYourHeadFezOnMyDrive said:

I have a 2016 Zetec S Black Edition. Bought at 9 months old with less than 500 miles on it. Serviced yearly/every 12.5k miles at a Ford dealer for first 5 years of ownership. From mid 2021 I took it to a local garage who are brilliant and I continue to use to this day. Ever since switching garages, I get it serviced every 6 months with the correct Castrol spec oil and have not yet had any issues relating to the wet belt and my car is on 88k miles.

Driven gently until fully warm, and then hard acceleration in third and fourth gears on slip roads - but otherwise driven sedately (more because of the large amounts of traffic and the imbeciles with zero spatial awareness or cognitive abilities behind the wheel doing 30 in a 50, 60 etc and then 40 in a 30 - but I digress).

Has had a new thermostat housing in May 2022 as that had a tiny leak. Interior trim such as the drivers window switches and the volume controls on the steering wheel sunk into the wheel itself. Patchwork on the exhaust at the same time too.

Good little cars, good handling and a flexible engine for a 1.0 litre, 3 cylinder turbo.

If you do buy one, my advice is to get it serviced twice as often and don't flog it hard in first nor second gear. And wait until it's fully up to temperature - I wish it had an oil temperature gauge as standard.

Hope that helps inform your decision.

I would also say don’t go any longer than 8 years on your cambelt.

[ZX10R NIN]

Trevor555 said:

Wish we could get them done for that around here.

Workshop I help out with wont do them.

Presume that's £700 plus Vat?

Oh yes we have to keep the tax men & women in a lifestyle to which they become accustomed to

[stevemiller]

My daughter had her 10 year old done at 120k miles, always serviced correctly. The belts while not like new were still good for a few more miles. The bill with VAT from our local indy was around £700, they are familiar with the job having the tools and a number under their belt. The car has covered 10k since the belt change.